The Goldfinger[b] is a 2023 Hong Kong crime drama film written and directed by Felix Chong, and starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Set in the 1980s, the film is based on the story of Carrian Group, a Hong Kong corporation which rose rapidly before collapsing shortly afterwards due to a corruption scandal.[2]
| The Goldfinger | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 金手指 |
| Simplified Chinese | 金手指 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Jīn Shǒu Zhǐ |
| Jyutping | Gam1 Sau2 Zi2 |
| Directed by | Felix Chong |
| Written by | Felix Chong |
| Produced by | Ronald Wong |
| Starring | Tony Leung Andy Lau Charlene Choi Simon Yam Alex Fong |
| Cinematography | Anthony Pun |
| Edited by | William Chang Curran Pang |
| Music by | Day Tai |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Emperor Motion Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 126 minutes[1] |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Budget | HK$350 million[2] |
| Box office | US$85.6 million[a] |
Budgeted at HK$350 million, production for the film began in February 2021 and wrapped up on 24 May 2021.[3][4][5] It was released in Hong Kong and globally on 30 December 2023.[6][7][8]
Plot
editWhen a stock market crash causes the sudden collapse of a multi-billion-dollar company, a ICAC principal investigator Lau Kai-yuen uncovers a criminal conspiracy involving the company’s founder, Henry Ching and becomes entangled in a long-running investigation.
Cast
edit- Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Henry Ching Yat-yin
- Andy Lau as Lau Kai-yuen
- Charlene Choi as Carmen Cheung[9]
- Simon Yam as K.K. Tsang[9]
- Michael Ning as Yam Chung[9]
- Alex Fong as Kelvin, Ching's lawyer.
- Philip Keung as Musharra Hafa
- Carlos Chan as Ho Ho Wan
- Chin Ka-lok as Sarge
- Catherine Chau as Suen Wei, Lau Kai-yuen's wife.
- Renci Yeung as Lau Wing, Lau Kai-yuen's daughter.
- Will Or as Ng Chi-fai
- Kaki Sham as Johnny
- Ng Siu Hin as Chim Man-wai
- Lam Yiu Sing as Tse Kin-ming
Production
editProduction for The Goldfinger began in February 2021, under the English working title Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong[b]. On 20 February 2021, the film held its production commencement press conference at Emperor Cinema located in iSquare in Tsim Sha Tsui where it was attended by Emperor Motion Pictures chairman Albert Yeung, producer Ronald Wong, screenwriter and director Felix Chong, alongside cast members Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Charlene Choi, Simon Yam, Alex Fong, Philip Keung, Chin Ka-lok (who also serves as the film's action director), Carlos Chan and Catherine Chau.[2] According to Yeung, the film is produced at a budget of HK$350 million, a recording-breaking budget for a Hong Kong production, and anticipates the film to break box office records as the highest-grossing Hong Kong film.[3][10] At the event, Lau revealed he first received from the script producer Wong and after reading it, he believed Leung is the best choice to act as his on-screen opponent. On the other hand, Leung revealed that his and Lau's roles in the film are reversed from their previous collaboration in the Infernal Affairs film series.[3][11]
Production for The Goldfinger officially wrapped up on 24 May 2021, after filming its climax scene involving Lau and Leung on location in a presidential suite at The Peninsula.[12][5]
Release
editThe Goldfinger was theatrically released on 30 December 2023 simultaneously in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and Canada.[13][14]
Reception
editBox office
editIn Hong Kong, the film debuted at No. 1 during its opening weekend, grossing HK$9,373,112 during its first two days of release including previews.[15]
The Goldfinger has grossed a total of US$85.6 million worldwide combining its box office totals from Hong Kong (US$5.6 million), China (US$79.7 million), Australia (US$245,443), United Kingdom (US$81,665) and New Zealand ($24,926).[16][17]
Critical reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 59% of 22 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10.[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[19]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Director | Felix Chong | Nominated | [20] |
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | Tony Leung Chiu-wai | Nominated | |||
| Films of Merit | — | Won | |||
| 17th Asian Film Awards | Best Actor | Tony Leung Chiu-wai | Nominated | [21] | |
| Best Costume Design | Man Lim-chung | Won | |||
| Best Production Design | Eric Lam | Won | |||
| Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild Awards 2023 | Best Movie Character of the Year | Tony Leung Chiu-wai | Nominated | [22] | |
| 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | The Goldfinger | Nominated | [23][24] | |
| Best Director | Felix Chong | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | Tony Leung Chiu-wai | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Anthony Pun | Won | |||
| Best Editing | William Chang, Curran Pang | Nominated | |||
| Best Art Direction | Eric Lam | Won | |||
| Best Costume & Make Up Design | Man Lim Chung | Won | |||
| Best Original Film Score | Day Tai | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Film Song | "Let's Get To The Top" | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Lik Wong, Benson Poon | Won | |||
| Best Sound Design | Nopawat Likitwong | Won |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ See Box office
- ^ a b Previously titled Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong.
References
edit- ^ "The Goldfinger (15)". BBFC. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Andy Lau and Tony Leung Reunite On Screen in New Film".
- ^ a b c Yan, Lim Ruey (21 February 2021). "Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai to reunite in a movie after almost 20 years". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ "Tony Leung, Andy Lau to star in Emperor's 'Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong'".
- ^ a b "First Look at ONCE UPON A TIME IN HONG KONG Starring ANDY LAU & TONY LEUNG CHIU WAI". 14 March 2023.
- ^ Pearce, Leonard (17 August 2023). "Tony Leung and Andy Lau's Infernal Affairs Reunion Tees Up In English-Subtitled Trailer for The Goldfinger". The Film Stage. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Tony Leung and Andy Lau Reunite in 'The Goldfinger,' Reviving the Hong Kong Noir Genre: 'Epic Stories Are Making a Comeback'". Variety. 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong Film Awards 2024 nominations in full: In Broad Daylight leads the race with 16 nods, followed by Time Still Turns the Pages and The Goldfinger". SCMP. 7 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Goldfinger review: high gloss Hong Kong corruption". BFI. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "《金手指》破天荒投資3.5億 楊受成盼劉德華梁朝偉再創票房紀錄". 20 February 2021.
- ^ "娛樂新聞台-無間道組合再度合作劉德華梁朝偉成最大焦點". YouTube.
- ^ "【金手指】梁朝偉劉德華造型首度曝光 阿Dee@ERROR闖影壇跟華仔合作".
- ^ "金手指 兩大影帝握手哄動全場 梁朝偉視劉德華最佳拍檔 (23:19)".
- ^ "First Trailer for Crime Thriller 'Goldfinger' with Andy Lau & Tony Leung". 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Hong Kong Weekly Box Office".
- ^ "The Goldfinger - Box Office Mojo".
- ^ "The Goldfinger (金手指) (2023)". The Numbers. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "The Goldfinger". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "The Goldfinger". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "電影評論學會大獎丨30歲余香凝憑《白日之下》首登影后！ 台灣吳慷仁膺影帝" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Lee, Edmund (12 January 2024). "Asian Film Awards 2024 nominations in full: Evil Does Not Exist and 12.12: The Day lead the field; 2 Hong Kong movies earn nods in 3 categories". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "香港電影編劇家協會2023年度最佳電影角色獎入圍名單公布 你最睇好邊個得獎？" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. 3 February 2024. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ "Hong Kong Film Awards nominations led by newsroom drama 'In Broad Daylight'". Screen Daily.
- ^ Ng, Kang-chung; Hung, Emily (14 April 2024). "Court drama A Guilty Conscience picks up top prize at Hong Kong Film Awards while crime thriller The Goldfinger is big winner". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
External links
edit- The Goldfinger on Facebook
- The Goldfinger on Instagram
- The Goldfinger at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- The Goldfinger at IMDb
- The Goldfinger at Douban (in Chinese)
